Fordham Fact #3: What's the Weather Like in New York City?

Most of the most frequently asked questions from International Students who come to Fordham is, What is the weather like in New York City? In an effort to answer this question thoroughly, we've laid out a basic description of each of the Seasons in New York.

Spring (March-May)

Spring is one of the most beautiful and most pleasant seasons to be in New York: the days get longer, the temperature is warm but not too hot or humid, and there are occasional light rain showers. Spring usually begins near the end of March and extends until the end of May. In general, temperatures are warm, but mild: the average is between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15 degrees Celsius). Sometimes weather in the Spring can be unpredictable. It is not unusual to have a surprise snow storm right at the end of March. Thunderstorms are also common in spring.



Summer (June-August)

Summers in New York are hot and humid, especially in the heart of the city which is often 10 degrees F warmer than the outlying suburbs. Average temperatures commonly exceed 90 °F (32 °C), although high temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are about as less common. Humidity levels are usually quite high in July and August. Thunderstorms are also common in summer, although these storms are usually not severe and rarely hit the city directly.



Fall (September-November)

The weather in the Fall is similar to that in the Spring, though temperatures are often higher. Temperatures can be somewhat unpredictable and do fluctuate quickly between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), and 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). It is not uncommon to have very warm days followed by a cold spell, and perhaps even the first snow. One of the most beautiful parts of Fall is New York is the foliage--when the deciduous trees' leaves turn vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. Fordham's campus has especially beautiful foliage since it is a few degrees cooler than the city itself.



Winter (November-March)

Winters are typically cold. Temperatures below 0 °F only occur about once per decade on average, but temperatures in the 10s and 20s (down to -10 °C) are quite common at the height of winter. New York winters often have a great deal of snow. The average amount of snow for New York in the winter is a total of 28.4 inches (.72 meters) per year. Below is a photo from a snow day we had last year here at Fordham. A group of my friends and I built a huge snowman. This picture was taken on Edward's Parade in front of Keating Tower.